Battle Creek's 'Chewbacca' goes viral after being shirtless at Detroit Tigers game

Battle Creek's Vosburgh, known as Chewbacca, becomes Internet sensation after being shirtless in 36-degree weather at Detroit Tigers game

Battle Creek's Sam Vosburgh has become an Internet sensation after he was seen shirtless in 36-degree temperatures at a Detroit Tigers game

Battle Creek's Sam Vosburgh, also known as Chewbacca, has become an Internet sensation after a photo of him shirtless in 36-degree temperatures at Wednesday's Detroit Tigers game went viral. He is also often shirtless at NASCAR events, where he takes this bus shown above.(Photo: Bill Broderick/Battle Creek Enquirer)

While Chewbacca was last seen at Comerica Park in Detroit, it turns out he lives in Battle Creek.

No, Battle Creek's Sam Vosburgh isn't the 'real' Chewbacca from the Star Wars movies. But he might be just as famous after a photo of him went viral on social media Wednesday after he was caught shirtless in 36-degree temperatures at Wednesday's Detroit Tigers game.

With everyone around him in coats and hats due to the near-freezing cold, the Fox Sports Detroit cameras spent much of the game focused on a big and bearded Tigers fan taking in the game with sunglasses and no shirt.

That newest Internet sensation was 60-year-old Vosburgh, a retiree from Battle Creek, who also goes by the nickname Chewbacca.

"This is all totally crazy. I never expected all of this. I am overwhelmed," said Vosburgh, who was interviewed by several news outlets at the Tigers game Wednesday and has since talked to several more on Thursday after his image was seen throughout social media. "I can't believe how this thing has gone viral.

"I just went to watch the ball game like I always do. I go to the game and I take my shirt off. Anybody that knows me in Battle Creek will tell you they never see me wearing a shirt. I just get hot. So it didn't matter that it was 36 degrees, I just don't like to wear a shirt wherever I go. I get too hot."

He has been seen shirtless at NASCAR races at Michigan International Speedway, at Spartan Stadium for Michigan State football games and he is always shirtless when he goes to Tigers games. And since his visits to Comerica Park over the years hardly ever include sub-freezing temperatures, it's not usually an issue.

But when he was sitting in the stands while the players on the field were all wearing long sleeves and masks on their faces, it was easy to see why a shirtless Vosburgh gained so much attention.

"It's just habit, I took my shirt off like I always do at Tigers games," Vosburgh said. "When I go in, I have a shirt on because you have to when you give them your ticket, but once I sit down my shirt comes off. No matter, winter, summer, whatever, no shirt... NASCAR races, football games, no shirt. I used to live in Denver and went to Broncos games when they were snow-blowing the field in between quarters and I wouldn't have my shirt on.

"Went to Applebees one day and everyone was staring at me, and the manager came by and said you have to put a shirt on. I didn't even realize I didn't have it on. I looked down at my beard and my chest and said, 'I have a sweater on,' kind of joking, but they made me put a shirt on."

Vosburgh was caught in a Sports Illustrated tweet looking bigger than life at the Tiger game and it has since generated more than 10,000 interactions since it was shared on Wednesday. Vosburgh, originally from Climax, was joined at the game with his three grandchildren — Delia, 6, Brailan, 11 and Nadia, 12 — along with his son-in-law, Antwaun Williams, all from Battle Creek.

Comerica Park even got in on the act and put his photo up on the scoreboard, adding the words, "T-shirts and jackets are for sale in the D Shop."

As with his nickname, as he has 'Chewy' on his license plate in reference to Chewbacca, Vosburgh has had fun with the entire experience and continues to be amazed by the excitement it has caused.

"Yeah, all the tweets are talking about seeing Chewbacca at the Tiger game. Me sitting there without my shirt. That's just normal. I've always been called Chewbacca, or Sasquatch ... even Yukon Cornelius from 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.' It's funny how much attention it has gotten because it's just something I always have done," Vosburgh said. "I even got a call from a friend in San Diego, who said he saw me on his local news. It's all kind of crazy."